Backyard recreational fires in Alpine County fall under County Code Chapter 8.16. An open-fire permit from CAL FIRE is generally required April 15–December 1, but fires within the dooryard premises of a residence are exempt. Fires must always be attended and fully extinguished, and during a declared fire restriction open fires are banned except supervised approved cooking devices.
Alpine County treats recreational backyard fires as open/outdoor fires under Chapter 8.16. Section 8.16.010 prohibits building or maintaining any open or outdoor fire from April 15th to December 1st without a permit from the State Fire Warden (CAL FIRE), but section 8.16.020 exempts open fires and heating/lighting appliances used within the boundaries of the dooryard premises of a place of habitation, as well as within established campsites. Section 8.16.030 also allows small attended piles burned at least 50 feet from woodland or brush without written permission, provided an adult is in charge at all times. Regardless of permit status, it is unlawful to leave a fire unattended (section 8.16.070) — the person in charge must thoroughly extinguish the fire before leaving — and it is unlawful to allow a fire to escape control or spread to a neighbor's land (section 8.16.080). When the county declares a fire restriction designation (section 8.20.030), section 8.20.050 prohibits outdoor open fires entirely but exempts supervised residential use of approved outdoor cooking devices, and permits private-property campfires only with a valid campfire permit. Because most of the county sits in High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, residents are encouraged to keep 100 feet of defensible space and to prefer propane/gas fire features over wood during the dry season. Wood-burning recreational fires are also subject to Great Basin Unified APCD burn-day rules.
Maintaining an unpermitted open fire between April 15 and December 1, leaving a fire unattended, or allowing a fire to spread are misdemeanors under Chapter 8.16, punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or up to six months in county jail (section 8.16.100). Open fires during a declared fire restriction violate section 8.20.050 and are a misdemeanor/infraction with a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail (section 8.20.070). The person who starts an escaped fire is liable for suppression costs and damages under Health & Safety Code 13009.
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